DETECTION OF THE SEEDBORNE MYCOFLORA OF SUNFLOWER

Abstract

Using blotter, agar plate and deep-freezing methods as recommended by ISTA, the seedborne mycoflora of sunflower was shown to consist of 20 different genera and 36 species of fungi. More fungi were isolated by the blotter method followed by agar plate and the deep-freezing method. Variety HO-I showed highest fungal colonization among the 20 samples tested. The pathogenic species included Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn, Macrophominaphaseolina (Tassi) Goid, Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon, F. solani (Mart.) Appel & Wollenw., F. semitectum Berk. & Rav., F. equiseti (Corda) Sacc., Drechslera state of Cochliobolus spicifer Nelson, Altemaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, A. tenuissima (Kunze ex Pers.) Wiltshire, whereas storage fungi such as AspergillLßflavus Link., and A. niger van Tieghem dominated. Surface sterilization of seeds with 1% Ca(OCl)2 re duced the colonization of Aspergillus species and R solani whereas M. phaseolina and Fusarium species showed an increase.